10 Best Things to do in Scenic Island Jeju Korea

The island of Jeju is also popular as a honeymoon destination for South Koreans due to many beaches and beach resorts. Peak tourist months are from May to September when the weather is sunny and warm. Months from November to March are usually mildly cold and can sometimes experience snow.

Though Jeju seems like a one-day trip kind of place to experience the island fully, a minimum of three to four days trip is required. Some popular things to do in Jeju are:

Jeju Island is surrounded by emerald-colored water and clear skies, making it the perfect choice for water sports. Among all the top-notch water sports, sea walking is one of the must things to do in Jeju. For sea walking reach, Dodu Harbor Site. There they provide all the required equipment needed for sea walking and prepare you for entering the water. The equipment included wet suits and sea walking shoes, though a person can opt for shorts and shoes according to their convenience.

Once you start climbing down the ladder towards the ocean bed, do remember to wear the helmet for oxygen supply. There is a group of maximum six sea walkers at a single time, who are accompanied by two underwater guides to ensure the safety of the sea walkers. Once underwater, one can enjoy the sea views, feed the fish, or wade around. Sea walkers can also get their picture taken with under-water dolhareubang, ride a bicycle or explore the seabed.

Sea explorers can see grey mullet, sea bream, and other varieties of tropical fish. The variety differs according to season and under-water temperature and time of the day. Late night-sea exploration is quite popular.

The Nanta Show or Jeju Theater is one of the must things to do in Jeju. To see this theatrical performance is just as it is the longest-running performance of Korea. The artists give a performance of acrobatics and comedy with the help of kitchen utensils. The skill and stitches of the performing artists are amazing as the show is non-verbal and uses the mime ability.

The Nanta Show is a percussion of kitchen utensils with the blend of martial arts, acrobatics, culinary skills, and music in a unique combination. The talented Korean performers cook –up a storm in the on-stage kitchen while giving the audience culinary lunacy of Korean cooking, which is sliced and diced to percussive perfection.

The performance is of 90 minutes and is the longest-running show in Korean history. The performance captivated the audience while displaying the comedic culinary attempts done by four cooks on the stage, who appear to be under pressure. NANTA combines Korean folk songs rhythms with modern music and creates a captivating non-verbal performance that can be understood by the international audience.

Any trip to Jeju would be incomplete without visiting the Udo Island. It is the top of must things to do in Jeju. Udo Island is fondly known as Jeju’s mini-me. Jeju, which itself is an island, has this tinier island just off the north-eastern coast of Jeju. Udo Island is located roughly 3.5 km from the eastern coast and is the compact version of Jeju Island with a variety of beaches, scenic peaks, fields of flowers, and romantic lighthouses. The beaches include a white sand beach, black sand beaches, and rock formations.

Though referred to as Jeju’s mini-me, Udo island is far less commercialized than Jeju. It has tourist-friendly amenities and infrastructure without giant malls and hotels. Udo Island translates to Cow Island and was named like this because its outline resembles a cow lying down or like the top of the cow’s head. Udo was formed by basaltic lava after several eruptions and is a lava plateau.

Udo Island has several notable attractions like:

（a). Jugan Myeongweol – It is a sea cave under Udobong, which is the peak of Udo. It is popular for its mid-morning reflection, which makes it look a moonlight glow in the cave.

（b). Dongan Gyeonggul – It is another cave under Udobong. According to legend, a whale lived there. During low tide, it is possible to walk out of it.

（c). Jeonpo Mangdo –You can see the full view of Udo from the ferry as you cross over.

（d). Jidu Cheongsa – are the picturesque views of Udo. This place makes people compare Udo to Scotland.

Hallasan National park, located in the province of Jeju-do is a designated national park. The national park has the highest mountain in South Korea, Mount Hallasan. The Hallsan National park was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002 and 2007 as a UNESCO Heritage Site. The national park is managed by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province rather than the Korean National park Service, which manages all the other national parks.

The Hallasan National park, with its seven hiking trails, is considered the holy grail for hiking, and hiking here is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The trails are - Eorimok Trail (6.8 km), Yeongsil Trail (5.8 km), Seongpanak Trail (9.6 km), Seokgulam Trail (1.5 km), Gwaneumsa Trail (8.7 km), Donnaeko Trail (7 km), and Eoseungsaengak Trail (1.3 km). The longest one is the Seongpanak trail, and it takes about 4 to 5 hours one way. One can also enjoy a wide variety of plants and animals during hiking. It is advisable to take regular breaks and enjoy the natural beauty. Also, do remember to take a good supply of water and wear hiking appropriate clothes. It gets a bit chilly even during summers at the high altitude, so do remember to carry a light jacket even during peak summers. And wear sunglasses and sunscreen even in winter as the sun is strong even in winter.

Visiting Seongsan IIchulbong is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The must-see natural attraction of Jeju is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known as the Sunrise Peak for the non-Korean speaking people or tourists. Enjoying the picturesque sunrise view of the scenic Seongsan llchulbong is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The 180-meter tall spot is the best spot in all of Jeju to watch the sunrise above the ocean and even sunsets. The view of sedimentary strata revealed by waves from the top is also an amazing sight where one witness nature’s magnificent work.

When one first sees the Seongsan Ilchulbong appears like a giant fortress as the 99 rocks surround the top. But in actuality, it is an extinct volcano that has a huge crater at the top. Similar to Mount Hallasan, it too rose from the sea more than 100,000 years ago and due to volcanic eruptions. Now it is connected by a ridge, which is perfect for walking or horse-riding to the nearby Seongsan village. The best time to visit the peak of Seongsan Ilchubong is during springtime when the peak is covered with yellow rapeseed flowers. The view on the top is well worth the climb.

Visit the Samseonghyeol is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The Samseonghyeol, which means in Korean “three clans or holes,” is three large holes in the ground. The holes are located in the Jeju city’s urban area on the central north coast.

People say there are many legends about the creation or origin of Jeju. Out of all these legends, the Samsung legend is the most famous one. According to the legend, a long time back, when there were no people on Jeju. One day suddenly, three demi-Gods named Yang Ella, Bu Ella, and Ko Ella emerged from the ground with a bright light. And thus, three holes were created in the ground. These three demi-Gods were smart and healthy, and they created the Tamra country. These three are known as the founding fathers of Tamra.

When visiting Samseonghyeol, one should see the animated movie shown at the local shrine to know about the Samsung legend. The movies are available in three languages – English, Chinese, and Japanese. Seeing the movie is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju to understand the Korean tradition. There are tickets required for admission. The tickets cost 2,500 won for adults, 1,700 won for teenagers, and 1,000 won for children and older people.

Jusangjeolli Cliff is geologic structures formed with volcanic lava when Hallasan Mountain exploded years back. The staggering cliff, which is 20 meters above the water, was created when the lava flowed into the sea of Jungman. The lava cooled, and the rocks eroded with time and water, and they slowly got shaped into the columnar structures we can see these days. Jusangjeolli means columnar joints, and the squares and hexagons of varying heights and sizes justify the name. The structures are similar to the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. When visiting the Hallsan Mountain, seeing these Jusangjeolli Cliff is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju.

One should sit on the serene beach and hear the sound of waves lapping around the columns. Enjoy the raw beauty around the Jusangjeolli cliff and the Jisatgae Coast. The 20 meters cliff is a popular spot for sea angling and high tide. The waves crash against the side of the Jusangjeolli cliff when its high tide, providing a breath-taking view of the ocean and coast surrounding the pillars. So, visit the Jusangjeolli cliff during high tide to enjoy one of the most magnificent things to do in Jeju

The Jusangjeolli Cliff is open from nine in the morning to seven in the evening. Though the last admission is at six in the evening.

Mount Hallasan or Halla is the most spectacular destination in Jeju island, and trekking here is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The best way to see the whole of Jeju is by hiking on top of Mount Hallasan and enjoy the spectacular, jaw-dropping views from the top. Mount Hallasan is an active volcano, but it neither smokes nor belches fire. It does nothing dangerous despite being an active volcano.

Located inside the Hallasan National Park, Mount Hallasan is a magnificent place just off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. This 2000 meters of Mount Hallasan is the tallest mountain in South Korea. One can see the volcanic peak of Mount Hallsan from anywhere on Jeju Island and from the South Korean mainland too.

There are four trails on Mount Hallasan for trekking- Gwaneumsa trail, Seongpanak trail, Eorimok trail, and Yeongsil trail. But only the Gwaneumsa trail and the Seongpanak trail goes upto the top of the mountain to the crater lip. The best trail is the Gwaneumsa trail, which is approx. 8.7 km one way and takes around 8 to 10 hours for going and coming back. It provides the best views of Jeju Island, so it is the best one to trek. The Yeongsil trek is the shortest one with a 3.7 km one-way distance. The trail takes approximately two hours to go and to come back. The Seongpanak trail is the easiest one and is of approximately 9.6 km one way. It takes roughly 7 to 9 hours for the round trek. Do take any trek as per your convenience and enjoy one of the best things to do in Jeju.

One of the things to do in Jeju is to go and enjoy the beaches. Though the famous Hyeopjae beach is mush popular, Geumneung Beach is much more scenic. The two beaches are interconnected through a strip of sand with grassy dunes and a huge campsite in between. Hyeopje is touristier with lots of visitors, cafes, and shops, but Geumneung is much more serene and spacious.

The curvy Geumneung Beach has two faces. During high tide, water reaches to the sea wall, and the beach disappears, but with receding tide, the beauty of Geumneung Beach is revealed. Huge expanse of white sand with interspersed black volcanic rock is revealed. One can enjoy the turquoise water on hundreds of meters of sandbanks. Even mirages are created in the sea by the reflection of wandering figures. Seeing the sunset at Geumneung Beach is one of the must-do things to do in Jeju. The sky is a riot of bright colors and makes it a special place.

The quaint Geumneung village is located next to the beach. Wander around the narrow lanes exploring the village alleys with traditional houses. The village has some beautiful cages to chill out in. There is a converted traditional house located at the end of the village. The house has tables set outside to relax and enjoy the amazing view. Also, one can enjoy the Jeju’s women divers in action in the Geumneung Village.

Sanbang Mountain is one of the marvelous places in Jeju. Sanbang, which means “a cave inside a mountain,” was created as the result of an 800,000 old volcanic activity. During those times high viscosity, lava was piled up, creating a bell-shaped vertical outcrop after it solidified. The southern side of lava formed a cliff like a dome marked with many varieties of curious formations such as talus scree slopes and weathering pits. The mountain, as its name suggests, has a cave inside it, located at 150 meters above sea level. The upper slopes of Sanbang Mountain have distinct climatic conditions. These slopes have diverse plants on them and are protected for botanical research on them.

Sanbanggulsa Grotto is located on the trail between these two temples. To take a cruise along the Sanbang Mountain is one of the things to do in Jeju as it has many unique spots to see. One can spot the signal beacon called “Yeondae” on the roadside. This beacon, located at the front of the mountain, was used in the past to relay messages by smoke and fire. Smoke was the means of signaling during daytime and fire in the night time. So, take a cruise along the Sanbang Mountain and enjoy the temples, mountainsides, the cave, unique rock formations, and other rock structures. It is an ideal spot for day trip and one of the things to do in Jeju.

Jeju is one of the top places to visit in kores with its scenic beaches, national parks, and other attractions. The city is a must-visit tourist attraction for any tourist. Plan your vacation well in advance to enjoy the best discounts and deals on tour packages, flight tickets, and accommodation. Customize your Jeju trip with the lowest airfare, best discounts on hotel rooms, tour packages, and other information to ensure you don’t miss out on any the things to do in Jeju, and your trip is memorable and enjoyed to the fullest.